August 2, 2014

The Long Awaited Much Anticipated Mrs. Pig

May I introduce

Polly

Polly is a two month old registered American Guinea Hog and Waldo's bride-to-be. Polly and Waldo are our foundation breeding stock, destined, through their progeny, to provide us with bacon, sausage, pork, lard, and more pigs. An added bonus is that they are natural tillers of the soil.

She's shy and a bit skittish, but has been exploring her new home.

Gruffy: "Oh no, not another one"

I put Polly in the buck pasture with Gruffy to start. Waldo remains in the front pasture with Caleb and Splash. My original idea for separation was to let Polly and Waldo meet through the fence and get used to one another. Her breeder recommended not letting them together until Polly is 8 months old. She based that on personal experience, having had a young pig get bred at too an earlier age which in turn stunted her growth.

What does Waldo think?

Polly on this side of the fence, Waldo on the other.

Meh. They sniff on occasion through the fence but then it's pig business at usual, which means rooting around, grazing, and otherwise finding things to eat. I imagine that will change as they both mature a bit.

Welcome, Polly! I'm kinda surprised Waldo isn't expressing more excitement about finding one of his own kind just the other side of the fence! I've never heard of pasturing goats and pigs together but it obviously works! Those are two very fortunate piggies. (Just look at all the space they have to roam in. And the wonderful care provided for them.) Here's hoping they have a productive, happy relationship and provide your homestead with tasty, humanely raised pork for a long time.

Very cool! I'll be watching to see how things go. Growing up in the 60s and 70s here in NE Indiana we had a number of family pig farmers in the area, and I seem to remember mostly Berkshire, Hampshire, and Duroc hogs. All big, a bit rowdy, and often decidedly ill tempered. As much as I'd like some pork in the freezer, I don't ever see myself in a position to deal with one of those. It'll be great to see if your two Guinea Hog porcine progenitors are able to 'bring home the bacon'. Maybe you'll inspire me to raise some pigs, too. "Welcome Polly" and "Good luck" Leigh and Dan!

We used to raise pigs and the male pigs definitely didn't exert any effort towards female pigs until it was their time of the month. Then they were leaping fences and raring to meet them. I suspect Waldo will be the same way.

Sitting here remembering the past I have to smile at how similar pigs are to us in ways. Their first times were full of nervousness, pig version of foreplay and a lot of flailing around trying to do things right. As the got older, it was more wham, bam, thank you maam and back to their food and mud holes.

I couldn't help but smile to see that you've gotten your second pig. Good for you! Hope you come to enjoy them as much as I'm doing with my two. Mine are housed together so they play like puppies. It's really cute to watch. But they're pretty competitive when it's mealtime. I have to use separate dishes, and the female still tries to steal the male's food.

Mama Pea, I suppose the lack of interest is because food is more interesting at present, LOL. I'm not sure if other breeds can be pastured with goats and chickens, but the American Guinea Hog doesn't mind at all. It's the goats who mind, LOL

Mom at home, thank you!

Renee, :)

Sue, thank you!

Mark, I admit I was hesitant about getting pigs after reading others' horror stories. The docile, friendly temperament of this breed was a major selling point for me! That, and their small size is better for us and our small acreage.

tpals, I like that name! We will definitely have a Petunia some time in the future.

Ed, you know, we've really come to understand some of the slang terminology that's in use today. Things like, "eats like a pig", have taken on a new meaning.

Chris, it is all about chemistry. :)

Tami, LOL. Great analogy!

Kris, me too! She's beginning to warm up a bit. Food wins them over every time.

Polly is a cutie!!! Now it's engagement time, each pig gets to smell and see each other through a fence. Don't let them fool you, they're waiting for the big day.....then you'll have your hands full, lol.....

MaryP, Hello and welcome! I wanted to return a blog visit but your profile doesn't list one, so please accept my heartfelt thanks for your comment. Thank you for mentioning Sugar Mtn Farm too. I've chatted with Walter via email and have to agree with you that he has great info on pigs. I have a link to one of his charts in my sidebar. :)

5 Acres & A Dream. The dream has always been to live close to the land. The 5 acres came in 2009, when my husband Dan and I bought a neglected 1920s-built bungalow on 5 acres. The goal is simpler, sustainable, more self-reliant living, and a return to agrarian values.

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